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Est. 1876 Mauer tl 5 1915 Owl Mom Dublin 519-345-2512 • .IYOd1 UnNaC kW* 519-348-9012 Barb Worden Stafa 519.345 2777 011 Jeremy scherb Zurich 519-238-4391 DiRECTORS $ ADJUSTERS k k 5 lArhil519-348.9705 • Larry Gmensr. R R 2 Stray 510462678 • Tom Feiner R.R 2 Dubin 519345 2947 RR t Kskt t► 519.229.8152 • Wiwi 011ma RR. 2 hith 5102384160 .1611bilAbai. WWI 519348-482y aril ■N lirL�JE LASSTFIEDS Sustainable food systems topic of conversation for project by London Training Local farmers ir participate in regional study Susan Hunderbnark OMI Agency A conversation about sus- tainable food systems, the basis of a project by the London Training Centre, came to Brod- hagen last week to talk to Huron and Perth County farmers and other stakeholders interested in improving agriculture. Agricultural researcher Rox- ana Roshon told 40 participants that the .project, funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, is looking at educating people around sus- tainable food systems in an attempt to create more jobs in Southwestern Ontario and sup- port the agriculturalbusiness sector. The project began last February and will conclude with a final report to the prov- ince in July of 2012. "We want to identify occupa- tional skill sets for emerging jobs, looking at the foods we grow and could grow and to develop economic systems to support these" she said. Richardo Ramirez, another member of the research team, divided participants into age groups to look at the various perspectives of the past, present and future of agriculture in an attempt to improve it 'Looking at sustainable food, we want to make sure we learn what worked in the past .and what will work in the future; he said. The Huron -Perth meeting was the second stop througha tour of nine counties including Wellington, Waterloo, Middle- sex, Bruce, Grey, Elgin and Oxford counties. A summary of the discussions throughout the nine counties is expected to be posted online at www.london- training.on.ca in February, 2012. Roshon said the impetus for the project was the need for education end training around local food from increased mar- keting for farmers to creating community gardens in the non- profit sector. "Imagine afuture with sus- tainable food systems where everyone shares In a thriving food culture, we work within the limits of our environment, our food contributes, to our health, communities are caring, connected and food secure and Susan Hundertmark OMI Agency Playwright Dan Needles inspires conversation on the topic of sustainable food systems while graphic recorder"John ReShon creates a visual interpretation of the conversation during a recent workshop in Brodhagen. there are rewarding Jobs for all encompassing prosperity," says the London Training Centre webpage describing the project. The research is looking for ways to explore alternative, low carbon technologies, investi- gate innovative low input value chains and develop economic systems to keep wealth in our communities. Business researcher Tom Schell talked about the history of agriculture and how shop- ping at farmer's markets evolved into small grocery stores and then large chain supermarkets, pointing out how the larger scale food systems have a larger carbon footprint. He said he stopped in Exeter recently at Tim Hortons and 'asked where the tomatoes for the sandwiches come from. Despite a large greenhouse business in. Exeter, he was sur- prised to find out that the toma- toes are shipped from Florida. He compared that situation to the slow food movement in Italy where people spend 30 per cent of their income on food and take a lot of time to prepare their meals. "There needs to be a shift in how much we spend on food and a culture around the time we spent with it," he said. He, pointed out that ways to support the local food economy would include a regional cur- rency, debit and gift cards to keep the money in the commu- nity and a local stock market that invests in the local food system with regional shareholders. In Brodhagen, Roshon said the discussion centred around the goal of developing a farmer cooperative that would share transportation, do marketing and develop at local brand with the market gardeners who attended the meeting. "I think that is one of the goals that could be imple- mented in the near future," she said. A meeting held earlier in Fie- sherton to hold the conversa- tion with Bruce and Grey par- ticipants attracted a number of small ecological farmers in their late20s and early 30s who were looking for advice as they began their agricultural careers. "We're hoping the interaction at these meetings will get new connections started in the com- munities, pulling people together," said Roshon. Playwright Dan Needles, who created the Wingfield Farm plays, is part of the team and he read segments of his rural - based plays to comment on the current food system and pro- voke conversation. Graphic art- ist John Roshon made a visual recording of the conversation, drawing pictures of the themes explored. "We were hoping the artistic component would connect to people with all types of learn- ing strengths. Watching the graphic recorder as he inter- prets the information gets peo - ple engaged," she said. Roshon said the project hopes to find the top 10 ideas from the nine counties consulted.